Category Archives: Resources

Tools of the Trade: Todoist

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Todoist is an online todo or task list utility. I tried several such sites because I wanted something I could access from my laptop or desktop without having to sync the two. I also like knowing it’s backed up elsewhere.

There are several additional features that makes Todoist really useful: gmail intergration, plugins for Launchy and Quicksilver and helpful keyboard shortcuts too. You can sort the list by due dates, context and project. If you try it out be sure to watch the tutorials to see how to use extra features, they are all simple but not obvious.

Here are a couple of other reviews:

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/todoist_task_management.php

http://abogawat.wordpress.com/2007/05/07/todoist/

Tools of the Trade: Nelson Signature Series Bible

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Probably the most basic tool for ministry — the preacher’s Bible. What to use in the pulpit, teaching, personal devotion, visiting and outdoor weddings? Personally I have a study Bible for my own reading, a pocket New Testament for visiting and a Nelson Signature Series Bible for preaching. It is the New King James Version, which might not be the best translation, but after looking for (and stressing over) the perfect translation I realized there is no such animal. I chose this for what may seem very superficial criteria, that is it looks and feels so nice. The leather is very soft and it is a very nice size.

After a few months of preaching, using different Bibles to do so I came to the conclusion that the size of a Bible (should be comfortably held with one hand) the appearance of the text (legible print, simple layout) and the absence of distracting study notes were as important as anything else in choosing a regular pulpit Bible. I prefer other translations for study (especially the ESV) but the New King James sounds familiar to folks who grew up with the KJV but is understandable to those who didn’t.

So what’s your preferred translation? For fellow ministers, what is your primary pulpit Bible and why?

Tools of the trade: Essential PIM

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I’m planning on posting resource ideas on Wednesdays.  I’ll post info on blogs, books, and other items I find useful or interesting.  Some will be specifically related to the work of ministry, others more general.  Today I’ll mention EssentialPIM a Windows program that keeps track of contacts, todo lists, calendar and notes.  (I don’t currently use this, but before I switched to Linux I kept a copy of EssentialPIM on my USB stick.)

It’s a very simple, lightweight program plus it uses very standard formats: ical, vcard and txt.  These formats makes it a breeze to import and export things.  The notes section can create  outlines, and the pro edition can create hierarchical tasks too.  (You can get a free basic edition or buy a “pro” version for about $40.  The freebie one was fine for my needs.)

The most appealing feature for me is that you don’t have to install it onto a system, you can save it to a USB stick and run it off of that.  I found that very handy when I was on campus using several different machines everyday.  So if you use different computers at home and at work or school this might be a useful program for you.

Here’s a screenshot from their website:

My Firefox Setup

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I switched to firefox as soon as my brother-in-law introduced it (and tabbed browsing) to me. It is highly customizable thanks to the huge number of add-ons. My browser is now optimized for research, here’s how mine’s set up. Anyone have any other favorites?

  • Quick Searches: these bookmarks let you set up a quick link to any search engine and set up a keyword. For example I search Googlebooks by going to the address bar typing books Name of Book Looking for. (Pressing Ctrl+L moves the cursor to the address bar.)
  • Search Engine Bar: This section of the browser has an area to type a keyword and several search engines to choose from, plus you can add additional engines: for me this includes a passage lookup in the English Standard Version of the Bible and the World Cat catalog. Several more can be found here.
  • Adblock: this stops those frames offering free iPods and other annoyances.
  • Unplug: downloads embedded media.
  • Zotero: this is a bibliography tool that is really cool. My thesis bibliography is stored here. It downloads bib information, you can search for libraries that have the book, print/export bibliographies, tag books and add notes.
  • Googlenotebook Extension: allows you to take notes and access them from small section without browsing to the google site.
  • Greasemonkey:multiplies the possible extensions by adding new functions to websites, reworking their look, additional blocking such as google ads and flash media.
  • Snaplinks and Downloadthemall: lets you select several links to open at once and download all links on a page respectively.

Screenshot

5 Sites with Rural Ministry Resources

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I’ve been googl’ing for websites that offer resources specific for rural ministry. I haven’ t been overwhelmed with information. I did find these five sites that might have something useful:

The Town and Country Institute if the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg has a select bibliography.

The ELCA denominational website has a section on rural ministry.

The Center for Theology and Land of Wartburg Theological Seminary has some resources for Rogation Sunday.

Alabama Rural Ministry.

And here’s a online document about pastoral ministry from the Rural Social Science Education website, the layout is a little unusual – you have to click several time to get to the text. Begin here.

Picture is Field of Gold by PentaxFanatik

Athanasius at Christ and Covenant

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A blogger I just discovered a couple of weeks ago has this about Athanasius’ on the Incarnation.  He mentions Athanasius’ continual arguments from Scripture.  That’s something I had noticed in my thinking through the place of tradition in Christian theology.  While I’m by no means a patristics scholar, in my casual readings through them I’ve noticed a primary appeal to scripture as the source of theology.

Audio Resources

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There is a huge amount of sermon and lecture audio available on the internet.  I keep my mp3 player loaded with something to listen to.  Some of the best sites I’ve found that are full of good, solid preaching and teaching follow:

 Sermon Audio

Biblical Training

Peter Kreeft

Collection of John Piper stuff

Covenant Seminary has lectures online, you can also subscribe via RSS

Monergism

European Leadership Forum has a media archive of past forums

Any sites you would add to the list?